, 1887-11-01
BETTER PROSPECTS.
Annual Convention of the Cat
tie Growers Association.
Address by Commissioner of
Agriculture Colman.
Effectual Attempts to Stamp
Out Pleuro Pneumonia.
Cattlemen in Convention.

KANSAS CRY, Oct. 31.-The Consoli-
dated Cattle Growers Association of the
United States assembled in annual con-
vention this afternoon. N. j. Colman,
commissioner OF agriculture, adore sed
the convention. He SAID the cattle in
ddstry of this country, representing
twelve hundred millions of dollars, was
under a cloud OF misfortune at present,
but he was satisfied that the population
Of the country was increasing far more
rapidly thar is the beef supply and that
this circumstance would rectify matters.
He then proceeded to read the semi
annual statement of the work of his de-
partment in fighting pleuro pneumonia.
After summarizing the appropriations
and the authority given by congress to
the bureau for the purpose of extermi-
mating the plague, Coiman said be pre-
pared a series of rules and regulations,
which he sent to the governors of various
states and territories, with the request
that they cooperate in the observance of
them. Thirty one states and territories
had responded and promised their assist
ance. He had also submitted to the
state legislatures an act providing for
state cooperation. This bill became a
law in Rhode Island, Virginia, New York
and Illinois.
In regard to the actual work OF the de-
partment, he mentioned that Cook county,
Illinois, and a number of counties in
New York and Maryland had been put in
quarantine. A circular had been issued
to the railroads asking their cooperation,
and he was pleased to state that very
effective assistance had been rendered by
them. From Jan. to Oct. Is of the
present year, inspectors of the bureau
of animal industry had examined 1865
herds, containing 2,69S head of cattle.
Of these, AIS herds, containing $3.50
cattle, were placed in special quarantine,
and l,209 were found to be diseased.
This did not include the Chicago quaran-
tine. Colman, in saying that the disease
had been eradicated from Cook county,
Illinois, remarked that the quarantine
land and New York had been the hot
beds of the disease. For years it has ex-
listed in Maryland and defied all attempts
to extirpate it. The cities of New York,
Brooklyn and Baltimore and their sub.
urbs for forty years have been the plague
spots, from whence the disease has spread
to other points of the country. But in
Maryland we now have things under con-
troll.
The commissioner read the statistics of
the number of herds examined and quar-
antined in Maryland, New jersey and
New York, and spoke encouragingly of
affairs In the latter state where the legIs-
lature and the governor have invited the
placing of the whole business under gov
eminent control. In regard to the needs
OF the bureau for the next year, Mr.. Col.
man said that about all that was necessary
was a sufficient appropriation, as the work
was progressing smoothly and systematic
ally. In conclusion the commissioner
said:
II have not alluded to the fact that the
disease has been stamped out in Missouri,
where one Illinois bull coming into the
state at Fulton caused quarantine against
the whole state and a loss in cattle of
$1,000, 900. l have not alluded to the
fact that it has been stamped out in Ken
lucky, where the amount of loss was
81, 900 1000. 1t has been estimated that
cattle disease in the past forty. five years
has cost Great Britain $500, 900, 900, yet
it exists there to-day in almost as bad a
form as it ever did. They have strong
laws, but they leave the execution of them
to local authorities. The disease needs
heroic treatment.
I'm Scotland, it is so bad to-day that
upon my recommendation, this country
has declared quarantine against all Scotch
cattle. 1t has been my ambition to see
the disease wiped out until not a trace
shall remain, and inside of a year and a
half L expect to have this ambition graft
fled, and | will say it may be a wise idea
to quarantine against all Europe, which
has been the hotbed of all the diseases
which atterward affected this country"
After paying a compliment to the cattle
growers and cattle of this country, the
commissioner retired. His paper, as well
as all other matters pertaining to pleuro
pneumonia, were made the special order
for TO morrow.